Draft-gear.



' J. R. OARDWELL.

DRAFT GEAR.

A PPLIOATIQN FILED I'EB.4, 1909.

Patented July 30, 1912.

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JAMES CA l'DlVELL, QF CFEIIBICAGO, ILLINGIQ, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE .AShIGIlMENTfil,

f5! IBRAFT GEAR COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DRAFT-GEAR.

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part of this spec rication.

My invention relates to friction draft-gear employed in railway service, and, in 11's pre ferrcd embodiment, is of particular service.

in connection with. the draft-gear forming the 11.6 subject matter of my United States Letters l 'atent N o. 819,266, dated May 1, 1906, and No. 86l,63t dated July 30, 1907, though I do not wish to be limited in all embodiments of the invention to the adaptation of the invention to the draft gear of my said patents.

My invention is designed to provide means for preventing lateral movement of friction elements which is not. prevented by t 1e com- 5 panion friction elements in the gear structures.

In the particular apparatus in which I have embodied my present invention, there are included relatively movable triangular friction blocks located in each of two pocketfollower-plates, a central longitudinally disposed friction element entering the pockets of the follower-plates, and engaging at its ends between two triangular blocks in 5 the pocket of each, follower-plate, transversely movable friction blocks also entering the pockets. of the follower-platesand between which the aforesaid central longitudinally disposed friction element'is dis- 40 posed, a bolt assing through. the three friction blocks t at extend between the fol lower-plates and enter the pockets thereof to engage the triangular friction blocks within such pockets, and springs surround- 515 ing the through-bolt for exerting pressure upon the said three friction blocks, one spring being disposed about one end of the through-bolt and the other spring about the other end of the through-bolt. It sometimes happens that the sprlng mechanism is not adjusted to preserve the central longitudinally disposed friction element in proper alinement with the draw -banthis" latter friction element frequently being disposed con- Specification of Letters li'atent.

Patented llly 30, 1912.

Application filed February 4, 1909. Serial No. 476,085.

siderably to one side of the proper line or at an angle thereto. By means of my invention, no special care need be taken in so adjusting the mechanism as to preserve the desired relative positions of the parts.

The object of my invention may be accomplished in various ways. In the preferred embodiment of the invent-ion, slightposed friction element and are coincident with the vertical median. plane passing longitudinally through said central longitudinallv disposed friction element. Suliicient endwise clearance is afforded between the ribs and the recesses or grooves receiving the same as to permit the proper relative movement of the follower-plates and friction elements, said ribs preventing lateral; move ment of the centrallongitudinally disposed friction element, 50- that the friction blocks of the gear are always centrally disposed between the center-sills or draft timbers.v

I will explain my invention. more fully by reference to the accompanying drawing, showing one embodiment thereof, in which- Fipgne 1 is a plan view of the draft rigging, partially in section, as constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation,

taken partially in section, along line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in cross-section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Like parts areindicated by similar chat actors pf reference throughout the different figures. I

The sills a a may be of any well knownor suitable construction and may be united by any suitable means, a strut '6 being partial! indicated for the purposeof this. union; is

is to beunderstood that the-sills a 'a. areto the sills. 'lf'he openings of the pockets 5i directly face each other. The vertical end walls 0 Z of the follower-plates are at the longitudinal ends of the friction gearing, the yoke m surrounding the followerplates and engaging ribbed portions thereof, said yoke being attached to the shank 0 of the coupler-bar. When a pull is exerted upon the coupler, the follower-plate 9 remains in place with respect to the yoke, the two plates 9 it being moved relatively toward each other, as will appear. When a push is exerted upon the coupler, the plate It is maintained in position with respect to the coupler yoke withlike results. The stops 7 attached to the sills, serve toengage the element 7 to prevent longitudinal movements of said element when a push is exerted upon the coupler. The stops 7L also secured to the sills, engage the element It to prevent the same from moving longitudinally when a pull is exerted upon the coupler.

The pocketed follower-plates g h carry elements g it that are provided with friction surfaces that incline toward the center of the structure and which cooperate with correspondingly inclined surfaces provided upon the friction blocks 9 q that are designed to travel transversely of the sills.

The elements 9 h are loose with respect to the follower-plates and are triangular in plan, there being two triangular blocks for each follower-plate as indicated. 'I employ a central longitudinally disposed friction block or member 9 which isprovided with inclined friction surfaces that engage the adjacent friction surfaces upon each set of triangular friction blocks. The friction blocks or members q q are provided with apertures extending transversely of the sills through the blocks, through which apertures the bolt 9* is passed, which bolt is surrounded with coiled springs s s that engage at their inner ends, castings t t that are desirably separately formed with respect to t-heblock q q for utility and convenience in assemblage and construction, the castingstt or block mechanism passing through holes in the sills into engagement with the blocks.

It will be seen that the rod 1" and the springs s areiplaced transversely of the sills. The

rod 1- together with the nuts and spring engaging plates at its outer ends constitutes a preferred form of spring abutment s'truc- I ture' against which the springs may work in forcing the transversely movable friction blocks into engagement with the middle friction block. WVhen the member 9 is moved forward upon a sufiicient pull upon the shankof the coupler and when the member his moved rearwardly upon a sufficient push upon the shank of the coupler, the blocks 9 are moved apart against the force of the springss s which are proportioned to offer the proper resistance to the relative motion between the elements 9 h for the purpose of the gearing, the springs s effecting the restoration of the parts to their normal positions when normal strain upon the shank of the coupler has been restored.

As indicated, the sills are provided with oblong recesses y, midway between the ends of which the bolt or rod 4' is normally disposed, the said rod and springs 8 being pushed or pulled longitudinally of the sills toward one end or the other of said slots, according to the direction of movement of the coupler yoke, the rate of travel of the rod and springs in the construction shown being approximately one-half of the rate of movement of the coupler yoke.

The gear thus far specifically described in connection. with the drawing has been widely adopted and is thoroughly practicable. In order, however, to insure the maintenance of the central position of the central longitudinally disposed friction element 9, I provide guide mechanism preferably including slight ribs 1, which are formed at the middles of the horizontal walls of the pockets in the follower-plates g /L, these ribs being disposed in alinement with the draw-bar or coupler yoke and feeing each ther. The central longitudinally disposed riction element 9 is provided at its ends with recesses 2, which are complemental to and receive said ribs, these recesses being provided upon the top and bottom of such central longitudinally disposed friction element and are coincident with the vertical median plane passing longitudinally through said central longitudinally disposed friction element. Sufiicient cndwise clearance is alforded between the ribs 1 and the recesses or grooves 2 receiving the same, as to permit the proper relative movement of the follower-plates and friction elements. said ribs preventing lateral movement of said central longitudinally disposed friction element, so that the friction blocks of the gear are always centrally disposed between the center-sills or draft timbers a a. I speak of lateral in the broad sense of transverse to the length of the car and irre- I spective of the planes of the moving parts.

The ribs 1, by being disposed in the followerplates, occupy a fixed vertical plane midway between the sills a (1, thereby confining the central longitudinally disposed friction block Q to sucl plane.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention containing one form of guide mechanism, I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construct-ion shown, but

'Idaving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:--

1. In a draft gear, in combination, opposed followers, a plurality of laterally movable wedging elements associated with posed followers,

each follower, a wedge member cooperating with the wedging elements associated with both followers and being relatively longitudinally movable with reference to such followers, and guiding means for restricting the lateral movement of the wedge mem- 2. In a draft gear, in combination, ov a plurality of lateral y movable wedg ing elements associated with each follower, a wedge member cooperating with the wedging element-s associated-with both followers and being relatively longitudinally movable with reference to such followers, and guiding means for restricting 5' the lateral movement of the wedge member, such guiding means comprising a rib and groove engagement ofthe we ge member with the followers.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 20 my name this 2d day of February A; D.,,

L. G. SrRoH, G. L GRAM- 

